How to pronounce kumbaya
Say it like koom-by-YAH. Kumbaya has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (YAH).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American to hear how to pronounce kumbaya. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˌkumbaɪˈjɑ/koom-by-YAH
UK BritishNo British transcription yet. The audio still plays in this accent.
- koom
- by
- YAH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kumbaya pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- koomGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- byKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- YAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
What does kumbaya mean?
noun
- Used to evoke spiritual unity and interpersonal harmony, with varying degrees of sincerity or sarcasm, as referring to the folk song.
Where does kumbaya come from?
From Gullah. Apparently a corruption of the English phrase “come by here” in a spiritual song.
Words that rhyme with kumbaya
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kumbaya.
Questions about saying kumbaya
How do you pronounce kumbaya?
Say koom-by-YAH. The American pronunciation is /ˌkumbaɪˈjɑ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kumbaya?
Kumbaya has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (YAH). Broken into parts: koom · by · YAH.